Traditional Chinese - Lesson 34 of 152: Habits

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

我早上通常會___。

Wǒ zǎoshang tōngcháng huì ___.

I usually ___ in the morning.

Meaning: 我早上通常會___。 (Wǒ zǎoshang tōngcháng huì ___.) means “I usually ___ in the morning.”

When to use: Use it to describe a normal morning habit. In Taiwan Mandarin, 會 (huì) often marks something you tend to do.

Tip: Don’t translate “usually” word-for-word into a long phrase. 通常 (tōngcháng) is enough.

我早上通常會喝咖啡。

Wǒ zǎoshang tōngcháng huì hē kāfēi.

I usually drink coffee in the morning.

我早上通常會運動。

Wǒ zǎoshang tōngcháng huì yùndòng.

I usually exercise in the morning.

我每天都___。

Wǒ měitiān dōu ___.

I ___ every day.

Meaning: 我每天都___。 (Wǒ měitiān dōu ___.) means “I ___ every day.”

When to use: Use it for something that happens daily. 都 (dōu) emphasizes that it is every day, not just often.

我每天都看中文影片。

Wǒ měitiān dōu kàn Zhōngwén yǐngpiàn.

I watch Chinese videos every day.

我每天都喝很多水。

Wǒ měitiān dōu hē hěn duō shuǐ.

I drink a lot of water every day.

你多久___一次？

Nǐ duōjiǔ ___ yí cì?

How often do you ___?

Meaning: 你多久___一次？ (Nǐ duōjiǔ ___ yí cì?) means “How often do you ___?”

When to use: Use it to ask the frequency of a habit or activity.

Tip: Put the action in the middle: 你多久 + action + 一次？ (Nǐ duōjiǔ + action + yí cì?)

你多久運動一次？

Nǐ duōjiǔ yùndòng yí cì?

How often do you exercise?

你多久整理房間一次？

Nǐ duōjiǔ zhěnglǐ fángjiān yí cì?

How often do you clean your room?

你平常會___嗎？

Nǐ píngcháng huì ___ ma?

Do you ever ___?

Meaning: 你平常會___嗎？ (Nǐ píngcháng huì ___ ma?) means “Do you ever ___?” or “Do you usually ___?”

When to use: Use it to ask if something is part of someone’s normal life or habits.

你平常會煮飯嗎？

Nǐ píngcháng huì zhǔfàn ma?

Do you usually cook?

你平常會讀中文嗎？

Nǐ píngcháng huì dú Zhōngwén ma?

Do you ever read Chinese?

我通常不會___。

Wǒ tōngcháng bú huì ___.

I don't usually ___.

Meaning: 我通常不會___。 (Wǒ tōngcháng bú huì ___.) means “I don’t usually ___.”

When to use: Use it for something that is not part of your usual routine.

我通常不會熬夜。

Wǒ tōngcháng bú huì áoyè.

I don’t usually stay up late.

我通常不會喝手搖飲。

Wǒ tōngcháng bú huì hē shǒuyáo yǐn.

I don’t usually drink hand-shaken drinks.

我有時候會___。

Wǒ yǒu shíhòu huì ___.

Sometimes I ___.

Meaning: 我有時候會___。 (Wǒ yǒu shíhòu huì ___.) means “Sometimes I ___.”

When to use: Use it for habits or actions that happen occasionally.

我有時候會去咖啡廳讀書。

Wǒ yǒu shíhòu huì qù kāfēitīng dúshū.

Sometimes I go to a café to study.

我有時候會搭公車上班。

Wǒ yǒu shíhòu huì dā gōngchē shàngbān.

Sometimes I take the bus to work.

週末我通常會___。

Zhōumò wǒ tōngcháng huì ___.

On weekends, I usually ___.

Meaning: 週末我通常會___。 (Zhōumò wǒ tōngcháng huì ___.) means “On weekends, I usually ___.”

When to use: Use it to describe a normal weekend routine.

週末我通常會睡晚一點。

Zhōumò wǒ tōngcháng huì shuì wǎn yìdiǎn.

On weekends, I usually sleep a little later.

週末我通常會跟朋友吃飯。

Zhōumò wǒ tōngcháng huì gēn péngyǒu chīfàn.

On weekends, I usually eat with friends.

我每次都會先___，再___。

Wǒ měi cì dōu huì xiān ___, zài ___.

I always ___ before I ___.

Meaning: 我每次都會先___，再___。 (Wǒ měi cì dōu huì xiān ___, zài ___.) means “I always ___ before I ___.”

When to use: Use 先…再… (xiān…zài…) to describe the order of steps in a routine.

Tip: 先 (xiān) is the first action; 再 (zài) is the next action.

我每次都會先洗手，再吃飯。

Wǒ měi cì dōu huì xiān xǐshǒu, zài chīfàn.

I always wash my hands before I eat.

我每次都會先看行事曆，再開始工作。

Wǒ měi cì dōu huì xiān kàn xíngshìlì, zài kāishǐ gōngzuò.

I always check my calendar before I start work.

我在試著多___一點。

Wǒ zài shìzhe duō ___ yìdiǎn.

I'm trying to ___ more.

Meaning: 我在試著多___一點。 (Wǒ zài shìzhe duō ___ yìdiǎn.) means “I’m trying to ___ more.”

When to use: Use it for a new habit you want to build or something you want to do more often.

我在試著多運動一點。

Wǒ zài shìzhe duō yùndòng yìdiǎn.

I’m trying to exercise more.

我在試著多說中文一點。

Wǒ zài shìzhe duō shuō Zhōngwén yìdiǎn.

I’m trying to speak more Chinese.

要看是哪一天

Yào kàn shì nǎ yì tiān.

It depends on the day.

Meaning: 要看是哪一天。 (Yào kàn shì nǎ yì tiān.) means “It depends on the day.”

When to use: Use it when your routine changes depending on the day or situation.

你每天都運動嗎？要看是哪一天。

Nǐ měitiān dōu yùndòng ma? Yào kàn shì nǎ yì tiān.

Do you exercise every day? It depends on the day.

你平常會自己煮飯嗎？要看是哪一天。

Nǐ píngcháng huì zìjǐ zhǔfàn ma? Yào kàn shì nǎ yì tiān.

Do you usually cook for yourself? It depends on the day.

我常常在___之後___。

Wǒ chángcháng zài ___ zhīhòu ___.

I often ___ after ___.

Meaning: 我常常在___之後___。 (Wǒ chángcháng zài ___ zhīhòu ___.) means “I often ___ after ___.”

When to use: Use it to say one regular habit happens after another time or activity. In Chinese, the earlier time often comes before the main action.

我常常在下班之後去健身房。

Wǒ chángcháng zài xiàbān zhīhòu qù jiànshēnfáng.

I often go to the gym after work.

我常常在晚餐之後散步。

Wǒ chángcháng zài wǎncān zhīhòu sànbù.

I often take a walk after dinner.

我最近很少___。

Wǒ zuìjìn hěn shǎo ___.

I rarely ___ these days.

Meaning: 我最近很少___。 (Wǒ zuìjìn hěn shǎo ___.) means “I rarely ___ these days.”

When to use: Use it for a habit that happens only a little or not often lately.

我最近很少看電視。

Wǒ zuìjìn hěn shǎo kàn diànshì.

I rarely watch TV these days.

我最近很少喝奶茶。

Wǒ zuìjìn hěn shǎo hē nǎichá.

I rarely drink milk tea these days.

我晚上從來不___。

Wǒ wǎnshàng cónglái bù ___.

I never ___ at night.

Meaning: 我晚上從來不___。 (Wǒ wǎnshàng cónglái bù ___.) means “I never ___ at night.”

When to use: Use it to say something is never part of your night routine. 從來不 (cónglái bù) is strong: never.

我晚上從來不喝咖啡。

Wǒ wǎnshàng cónglái bù hē kāfēi.

I never drink coffee at night.

我晚上從來不工作。

Wǒ wǎnshàng cónglái bù gōngzuò.

I never work at night.

Traditional Chinese - Habits

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

How do you say “I usually drink coffee in the morning”?

Which question means “How often do you exercise?”

Choose “I’m trying to speak more Chinese.”

Which phrase means “It depends on the day”?

I usually read Chinese in the morning.

How often do you exercise?

I always brush my teeth before I eat breakfast.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice